A Lectio Divina meditation on Psalm 32 from Nan Merrill’s book Psalms for Praying

Experience stillness and in the quiet hear what God is offering from these rich and hope-filled words.

Blessed are you whose wrongdoings

Have been forgiven,

whose shame has been forgotten.

Blessed are you in whom Love Divine

finds a home,

and whose spirit radiates truth.

When I acknowledged not my shortcomings,

I became ill though all my defences.

And day and night, guilt weighed heavy

constricting my heart;

My spirit became dry as desert bones.

I admitted my faults to the Most High.

and I made known my regret;

I cried out, “Forgive me, O Comforter,

for those times I have sinned in

my thoughts, my words

and my deeds;”

And the Beloved created within me

A clean and open heart.

Therefore, let everyone who is sincere

give thanks to the Beloved;

For whenever we feel paralysed

by fear, we shall be embraced by Love.

Dwelling in the Hear of the Beloved.

we are free from distress

free to live more creatively.

O my Beloved, You are my guide,

You teach me to walk in the Light.

Be watchful of me, counsel me as

I listen to You in the Silence.

I pray for the gifts of inner peace

and wisdom,

For the grace to reverence all of Creation.

Many are the heartaches of those

separated from Love;

Steadfast love abides with those

who surrender their lives into

the hands of the Beloved.

Be glad and rejoice! Let your lie

give witness to Love’s Way;

And shout for joy, all you upright

of heart!